| The list includes some very modest eateries where | | | | smelling salts. That said, for those who can afford it, |
| you will not spend a fortune but will still eat well. | | | | it will remain a unique experience. Rules 35 Maiden |
| There are now so many restaurants in London, that | | | | Lane, WC2E 7LB (020 7836 5314) Price £49.00 |
| this is just a cross section of those available but | | | | Rules has been serving traditional British food for |
| everybody should find something that will appeal to | | | | over 200 years and the decor reflects this. To some |
| their tastebuds and pockets. Michelin Star | | | | it is elegant dining, to others it is a bit like an Olde |
| Restaurants Le Gavroche 43 Upper Brook Street, | | | | England theme park either way it is a great way to |
| W1K 7QR (020 7408 0881) Albert and Michael Roux | | | | sample some of the finest British cuisine and that |
| set the benchmark for Haute Cuisine for London | | | | includes those glorious English puddings. The only |
| restaurants many years ago and son Michael Roux | | | | problem is you will need to have the wherewithal of |
| Jnr is now doing the same. Elegant dining such as this | | | | at least a minor member of the aristocracy to pay |
| does not come cheap, a minimum price of £60 | | | | for the meal. If you go to the Tate Modern to feed |
| each, but with 2 Michelin stars over the door you just | | | | your artistic soul, you will have the choice of two fine |
| know it is money well pent. Gordon Ramsay On | | | | restaurants. Tate Modern Restaurant: Level 7 7th |
| Royal Hospital Road 68 Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, | | | | Floor, Tate Modern, Sumner St, SE1 9TG (020 7401 |
| London, SW3 4HP (020 7352 4441) Lunch Menu | | | | 5014 ) Whilst in the Tate Modern, you should take |
| £40 7 Course Dinner Menu £110 With a 2 | | | | the lift to the 7th floor where, if you can get a |
| month waiting list you will have to plan ahead if you | | | | window table, you will get some stunning views of |
| want to eat here and with three Michelin stars, you | | | | the river to accompany your stunning food which |
| just know the food will be out of this world. Any | | | | luckily is not named after any types of art. The |
| serious foodie would kill his own Mother to get a seat | | | | cuisine is modern European and sourced from both |
| here to sample the French and Mediterranean dishes. | | | | Britain and the continent. Views and foods this good |
| It is a credit to Gordon Ramsay that despite being | | | | do not come cheap so if you are on a modest |
| listed in the top five restaurants in the world, the | | | | budget, you might like to try the cafe on the 2nd |
| house wine is only £15 although the extensive | | | | floor where children are very well catered for. If you |
| wine list contains some fine wines at a lot more than | | | | are not too tired then try:- Northbank One Paul's |
| that. Petrus The Berkeley, Wilton Place, Knightbridge, | | | | Walk, EC4V 2EH (020 7329 9299) Just a quick stroll |
| London, SW1X 7RL (020 7235 1200) Chef, Marcus | | | | across the bridge and you will find this cathedral to |
| Wareing has earned his two Michelin stars by serving | | | | the finest provender the South-west of England can |
| up some of the finest French cuisine available and | | | | supply, cooked to perfection. It doesn't come cheap |
| that includes in France. The restaurant, situated in the | | | | but after such a meal you will be more than happy to |
| Berkley Hotel a known haunt of the Queen, is named | | | | pay. Summer visitors will enjoy the outdoors tables |
| after one of the finest red wines in the world. You | | | | and if you get there sooner you will still be able to |
| can enjoy a bottle with your meal but with prices | | | | marvel at the 'Glass Gherkin' building. Don't forget to |
| starting at over £300 and ending in a wallet | | | | take a closer look at the wall paper, it is a modern |
| busting £12,300, you may wish to try the house | | | | toile that reflects the City of London surroundings. |
| red at around £15 per bottle, although this may | | | | Red Fort 77 Dean Street, W1D 3SH (020 7437 2115) |
| be an insult to the magnificent food. Locanda Locatelli | | | | The authentic cuisine of North India has made the |
| 8 Seymour Street, London, W1H 7HT, (020 7935 | | | | Red Fort a focal point for the Indian food |
| 9088) Although I have not eaten there yet, I must | | | | afficionados. It is the exquisite cuisine and stylish |
| admit this is my favourite celebrity chef. He always | | | | surroundings that have attracted the good and the |
| comes across a passionate believer in the quality of | | | | great. A definite must for any visitor but beware, |
| his ingredients and the joy of cooking them. I am | | | | you will never quite enjoy your own local take away |
| sure his two Michelin stars are an understatement. If | | | | again. Myung Ga 1 Kingly Street, W1B 5PA (020 7734 |
| Italian food is your passion this is the temple where | | | | 8220) This Korean restaurant is a haven for basic |
| you can worship it in. The amazing thing is that you | | | | Korean food as the number of Koreans, Chinese and |
| can dine here for about £30 each and you will | | | | Japanese eating there will demonstrate. This bustling |
| find many good wines at under £20 per bottle. | | | | restaurant would be a great place for the novice to |
| Nobu Metropolitan Hotel, 19 Old Park Lane, London, | | | | be introduced to the tastes of Korea. Wahaca 66 |
| W1 Y4LB (020 7447 4747) This 2 Michelin star | | | | Chandos Place, London, WC2N 4HG Average Price: |
| restaurant was the haunt of both pop and movie | | | | £50 This is a real Mexican restaurant that |
| stars where the tempura is sublime. Japanese cuisine | | | | specialises in street food with ingredients that are |
| is always expensive so the £60 per person will | | | | ethical and traceable. Authentic is the keyword so be |
| not phases the Japanese affictionados. Other Great | | | | prepared to be surprised if you are used to the usual |
| Restaurants Texture 34 Portman Square, W1H 7BY | | | | old tex-mex that has been touted around for years. |
| (020 7224 0028) The nearest tube is Marble Arch but | | | | The sample menu is a good place to start, just be |
| if you can afford to eat here you will not be | | | | careful of the freshly prepared hot sauces. Dining On |
| travelling by public transport. Dinner for two with | | | | A Budget Stockpot 18 Old Compton Street, Soho, |
| wine and service costs around £150. Has a | | | | W1D 4TN 273 Kings Road, London, SW3 5EN 38 |
| Champagne bar that is worth a visit. This restaurant | | | | Panton Street, London, SW1Y 4EA Opened in 1958 |
| is the brainchild of Agnar Sverisson, the Icelandic | | | | this small chain of inexpensive restaurants are still |
| former head chef at Le Manoir aux Quatre Saisons, | | | | providing the capital with nourishing food at |
| (Raymond Blanc's flagship restaurant) and Xavier | | | | affordable prices. The menu is simple British and |
| Rousset who was the Head sommelier there. One | | | | continental with generous portions. For those on a |
| can only wonder at the day they both decided to | | | | limited budget this cannot be topped. I have eaten at |
| leave! The decor could be described as Icelandic cool, | | | | all these locations and can attest to the quality as |
| the cuisine in the nouvelle style and the ingredients | | | | does the number of people who you will find eating |
| are the best. A great introduction is the started | | | | there. Yo! Sushi MyHotel, 11-13 Bayley Street, |
| menu which will give you a pointer to your next visit. | | | | Bedford Square, WC1B 3HD also at Harrods, Harvey |
| Don't leave it too long as a Michelin star or two | | | | Nichols, Selfridges and many other places. A fun way |
| cannot be far away and you know what that can do | | | | to eat sushi that will not break the bank. As you sit, |
| to the prices and the waiting list. Daphne's 112 | | | | the different sushi goes around on a conveyor belt |
| Draycott Avenue, SW3 3AE (020 7589 4257) Price | | | | so you can help yourself from the cooked and raw |
| £48.00 Another Italian restaurant that has been | | | | dishes. A nice, if expensive twist is the water pump |
| favoured by stars, particularly for the lunch time | | | | at each table. Rootmaster Old Truman Brewery, Brick |
| crowd and why not, the food is excellent and the | | | | Lane, E1 6QL If you are looking around the City of |
| service attentive without being over-bearing. At least | | | | London and want something different then this is the |
| it was when I ate there a couple of years ago. It has | | | | place for you, especially if you are a vegetarian and if |
| a novel open space that makes summer dining a real | | | | you are not, then this would be a great introduction |
| pleasure. Even though they take great pride in | | | | to the cuisine. The bonus is that you get to eat on |
| sourcing as much of their produce from caring British | | | | one of what used to be, London landmarks, a big red |
| producers, their risottos and pasta dishes are second | | | | Routemaster Bus, hence the name pun. Fantastic |
| to none and are complimented by a fine selection of | | | | noodles and falafel made in the shape of burgers |
| Italian wines. Cantina del Ponte 36C Shad Thames, | | | | make this a truly unique eating experience. Sticky |
| Butler's Wharf, SE1 2YE Price £25 This is the | | | | Fingers' Cafe 1a Phillimore Gardens, Kensington, W8 |
| cheaper version of Sir Terrance Conrans restaurant | | | | 7EG When Bill Wyman wasn't Rolling with the Stones |
| La Ponte de la Tour, right on the river, overlooking | | | | he started this restaurant which serves burgers, ribs |
| Tower Bridge with spectacular views of the river | | | | and tex-mex. The food must be good as it still going |
| Thames which make it an excellent summer dining | | | | strong after many years. Situated in a side street off |
| establishment. The menu is traditional Italian fare | | | | the High Street Kensington makes it a perfect mid |
| cooked to perfection. I had a pizza which, having | | | | shopping break. Hard Rock Cafe 150 Old Park La, |
| come from their wood fired oven was just sublime | | | | W1K 1QR, (020 76290382) The daddy of them all, |
| and the Tiramisu to follow did not disappoint. The | | | | they set the standard for burgers in London long |
| food is well complimented by an extensive wine list. | | | | before any of the chains opened up London. I would |
| Bibendum Michelin House, 81 Fulham Road, SW3 6RD | | | | tell you when I first went there but I am afraid I |
| (020 7581 5817) If seafood is your passion, this is the | | | | might show my age. They have gone global but the |
| place for you. Opened by Sir Terrance Conran | | | | ethics are still the same, good food in great |
| twenty years ago in the old Michelin Tyre Depot, you | | | | surroundings and reasonable prices and you can get |
| will think you are in Paris as you feast on superb fish | | | | the t-shirt. Pizza Express Although the Pizza Express |
| dishes amid the splendour of the art deco features | | | | is a chain, you will not be disappointed by the quality |
| like the huge stained glass windows. Before you ask, | | | | of the pizzas unless you only like yours made in the |
| there are also some fine meat dishes that are also | | | | deep pan style because they only make the |
| cooked to perfection. Lindsay House 21 Romilly | | | | traditional thin crust style. They do have a selection |
| Street, W1D 5AF (020 7439 0450) If you wish to | | | | of other dishes available as well. Some of the |
| dine like a Georgian English gentleman with an British | | | | restaurants have live jazz so you can make an |
| menu then you will do no better than Lindsay House | | | | evening of it. You are now ready to venture out and |
| where Richard Corrigan, a rising TV star, serves a | | | | sample the culinary delights of London, whether it is a |
| wonderful menu sourced from the best providers. | | | | fine British menu or something from further afield and |
| Pigs trotters or smoked eel salad served in a genteel | | | | you won't necessarily need a bank balance the size |
| 18th century drawing room may have you thinking | | | | of Fort Knox to enjoy them. The top restaurants, |
| that you will be able to get a sedan chair home. The | | | | especially those with Michelin stars, may need to be |
| 21st century will hit you at the end when the | | | | pre-booked so it may be advisable to check before |
| espresso is served at nearly £5 per cup which | | | | you travel, it would be so disappointing to miss them. |
| would make even the aristocracy reach for their | | | | |